The poll shows that public views of Musk are increasingly polarized, with Republican support of the billionaire rising while Democratic support falls.

Elon Musk’s support among Democrats has withered to a new low as he has embraced Republican politics, according to a national NBC News poll.

Only 6% of Democrats in the poll, which was conducted Sept. 13-17, said they had positive feelings about Musk, while 79% said they had negative feelings. The numbers were flipped for Republicans, with 62% having positive feelings toward him and 14% negative feelings. Independents were split, 31% to 36%.

The poll shows that views of Musk are increasingly polarized, reflecting the transformation of his public image in recent years from that of an environmentally aware automaker crusading against fossil fuels to that of a conservative activist aligned with former President Donald Trump.

  • hddsx
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    3 months ago

    Why is musk’s(and Swift’s) popularity newsworthy? Unless they are trying to run for office, who cares?

    • ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net
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      3 months ago

      Musk has continued to interfere with politics over and over again. From donations, to censorship, to being a weird fucking creep to female politicians.

      Swift was dragged in there because Donald Trump shared fake AI images of her supporting Donald. To fix the blowback, Swift said, “Ew you old filthy pedo, I’m not doing that”. (Don’t quote me)

      Its newsworthy because it’s news.

      • hddsx
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        3 months ago

        So Musk is a creepy dickhead. That’s not news. It’s been apparent for quite a while now

    • Wrench@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Musk bought one of the biggest social media platforms expressly to manipulate news, which in turn manipulates politics and markets.

      He’s basically like a narcissistic Rupert Murdock who wants to make his manipulation all centered around how cool he is.

      That’s news.

      Taylor Swift is just filler content. It’s taking the place of worlds largest cookie stories. But the reason it gains traction is that she has taken on a bit of a counter persona to the Right’s habitual sexism. She’s an influential woman. The Right can’t stand that shit.

      • hddsx
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        3 months ago

        It was news when he bought the platform. It was news when advertisers boycotted his platform. It was news when it first became a far right cesspool. It’s news when X finally capitulated to the Brazilian government.

        His approval rating doesn’t matter and isn’t news. His continual support of far right figures isn’t news unless he is supporting someone new.

        Do we report about Steve Ballmer or Tim Cook’s approval ratings? No. Because it doesn’t matter. It’s not news. Stop giving Musk attention he doesn’t deserve. We shouldn’t be talking about him. He craves the spotlight. Don’t give it to hin

    • blackbelt352@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Because they have lots of money and influence among the 18-35 demographic. Would I prefer if news corps didn’t cover their every move and thought? Yeah I would, but unfortunately news featuring Musk and Swift gets clicks which drives advertising.